William Shenstone Quotes

Let us be careful to distinguish modesty, which is ever amiable, from reserve, which is only prudent.

Laws are generally found to be nets of such a texture, as the little creep through, the great break through, and the middle size are alone entangled in.

It is a miserable thing to love where one hates; and yet it is not inconsistent.

Oft has good-nature been the fool's defence,
And honest meaning gilded want of sense.

A fool and his words are soon parted; a man of genius and his money.

Theirs is the present who can praise the past.

She pleas'd while distant, but, when near, she charm'd.

The fund of sensible discourse is limited; that of jest and badinerie is infinite.

Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round,
Where'er his stages may have been,
May sigh to think he still has found
The warmest welcome, at an inn.

Second thoughts are oftentimes the very worst of all thoughts.

Independency may be found in comparative, as well as absolute abundance: I mean when a person contracts his desires within the limits of his fortune.

While we labour to subdue our passions, we should take care not to extinguish them. Subduing our passions, is disengaging ourselves from the world; to which however, Whilst we reside in it, we must always bear relation; and we may detach ourselves to such a degree as to pass an useless and insipid life, which we were not meant to do. Our existence here is at least one part of a system.<p>A man has generally the good or ill qualities which he attributes to mankind.

A little bench of heedless bishops here,
And there a chancellor in embryo.

So sweetly she bade me adieu,
I thought that she bade me return.

There seem near as many people that want passion as want reason.